Dust collector coupling skirt

Abstract

To adapt a dust collector for use with a trash can, a clamp-on skirt or adapter is provided to interconnect the lower opening of the dust collector housing to the rim or upper portion of a conventional trash can. In a preferred embodiment, the clamp-on skirt adapter is formed from the same material as conventional dust collection bags and can be clamped to the dust collector housing and trash can using, for example, conventional dust collection bag clamping straps.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A dust collector comprising: 
       a housing having an outer peripheral wall, a substantially open top end and a substantially open bottom end;  
       a motor and a blower driven by said motor for directing dust and debris to be collected into said housing;  
       a filter component operatively coupled to said substantially open top end of said housing for allowing air to pass therethrough to vent from said housing while retaining particulate materials;  
       a rigid collection vessel substantially vertically aligned with said substantially open bottom end of said housing for collecting dust and debris; and  
       a coupling skirt extending between and operatively coupling said housing and said rigid collection vessel, said coupling skirt including an adapter band formed from a flexible material so as to extend in a substantially continuous loop and having first and second axial end edges, a first clamp assembly clamping said first axial end edge of said adapter band to said housing adjacent a lower end thereof and a second clamp assembly securing said second axial end of said adapter band to said rigid collection vessel thereby generally confining dust and debris to pass from said housing into said collection vessel.  
     
     
       2. A dust collector as in claim  1 , wherein said first clamp assembly comprises a first elongated strap for securing said first axial end edge of said adapter to the outer peripheral surface of said housing. 
     
     
       3. A dust collector as in claim  2 , wherein a pocket is defined adjacent said first axial end edge of the adapter band and said first elongated strap is disposed in said pocket so as to extend at least about substantially the entire circumference of the adapter band. 
     
     
       4. A dust collector as in claim  3 , wherein a clamping fastener is coupled to one longitudinal end of said first elongated strap for receiving and clamping the other longitudinal end of said first elongated strap to secure said adapter band to said housing. 
     
     
       5. A dust collector as in claim  3 , wherein said second clamp assembly comprises a second elongated strap for securing said second axial end edge of said adapter to the outer peripheral surface of said housing, and wherein a pocket is defined adjacent the second axial end edge of the adapter band for receiving the second elongated strap. 
     
     
       6. A dust collector as in claim  1 , wherein said adapter band is formed from an air permeable material. 
     
     
       7. A dust collector as in claim  1 , wherein said rigid collection vessel comprises a generally cylindrical, steel trash can. 
     
     
       8. A dust collector as in claim  1 , further comprising a support stand, said support stand including a platform for receiving said collection vessel and a vertical support fixedly secured to said housing for suspending said housing above said platform. 
     
     
       9. A dust collector adapter for adapting a dust collector debris outlet to a rigid collection vessel comprising: 
       an adapter band formed from a flexible material so as to extend in a substantially continuous loop and so as to have first and second axial end edges, a first pocket being defined adjacent the first axial end edge of the adapter band and a first elongated clamping strap disposed in said pocket so as to extend at least about substantially the entire circumference of the band for securely coupling said first axial end edge of said adapter band to one of the dust collector outlet and the rigid collection vessel.  
     
     
       10. A dust collector adapter as in claim  9 , further comprising a second clamp assembly for securing said second axial end of said adapter band to the other of the housing and the rigid collection vessel thereby to generally confine dust and debris to pass from the housing into the rigid collection vessel. 
     
     
       11. A dust collector adapter as in claim  10 , wherein said second clamp assembly comprises a second elongated strap for securing said second axial end edge of said adapter to an outer peripheral surface of the other of the housing and the rigid collection vessel. 
     
     
       12. A dust collector adapter as in claim  11 , wherein a second pocket is defined adjacent said second axial end edge of the adapter band and said second elongated strap is disposed in said second pocket so as to extend at least about substantially the entire circumference of the adapter band. 
     
     
       13. A dust collector adapter as in claim  12 , wherein a clamping fastener is coupled to one longitudinal end of said second elongated strap for receiving and clamping the other longitudinal end of said second elongated strap to selectively secure said adapter band to the other of the housing and the rigid collection vessel. 
     
     
       14. A dust collector adapter as in claim  9 , wherein a clamping fastener is coupled to one longitudinal end of said first elongated strap for receiving and clamping the other longitudinal end of said first elongated strap to selectively secure the adapter band to said one of the dust collector outlet and the rigid collection vessel. 
     
     
       15. A dust collector adapter as in claim  9 , wherein said adapter band is formed from an air permeable material. 
     
     
       16. A dust collector adapter as in claim  9 , wherein said rigid collection vessel comprises a generally cylindrical, steel trash can. 
     
     
       17. A dust collector adapter as in claim  9 , further comprising a support stand, said support stand including a platform for receiving said collection vessel and a vertical support fixedly secured to said housing for suspending said housing above said platform. 
     
     
       18. A method of collecting dust and debris comprising: 
       providing a dust collector assembly including a housing having an outer peripheral wall, a substantially open top end and a substantially open bottom end; a motor; and a blower driven by said motor for directing dust and debris to be collected into said housing;  
       providing a filter component;  
       providing a coupling skirt including an adapter band formed from a flexible material so as to extend in a substantially continuous loop and having first and second axial end edges;  
       operatively coupling the filter component to said substantially open top end of said housing;  
       substantially vertically aligning a rigid collection vessel with said substantially open bottom end of said housing;  
       operatively coupling the first axial end of said adapter band to said bottom end of said housing;  
       operatively coupling the second axial end of said adapter band to said rigid collection vessel; and  
       actuating said motor and said blower so as to direct dust and debris into said housing and collecting said dust and debris in said rigid collection vessel, said coupling skirt generally confining said dust and debris to pass from said housing into said collection vessel.  
     
     
       19. A method according to claim  18 , wherein each said step of operatively coupling comprises clamping said respective axial end of said adapter band to said housing and said collection vessel, respectively. 
     
     
       20. A method as in claim  19 , wherein a pocket is defined adjacent each axial end edge of the adapter band and an elongated strap is disposed in each said pocket so as to extend at least about substantially the entire circumference of the adapter band, wherein a clamping fastener is coupled to one longitudinal end of each said elongated strap for receiving and clamping the other longitudinal end thereof to thereby clamp said adapter band to the housing and rigid collection vessel, respectively.